subtle smoky quality. Zesty and precise, with tangy red and dark berry flavors that show very good focus and pick up a touch of allspice with air. Closes sweet and long, with no obvious tannins and very good clarity."

Their vineyards are located in the Salnes Valley. âI am looking for a very classic wine that emphasizes the Albarino variety,â said proprietor Juan Gil de Araujo Gonzales de Careaga. âRead More...

It must have very good acidity and fruity flavors: apple, citrus fruit and so on. I love the minerality of this area, from the granitic soils. I am looking for persistency in the mouth.â This was an impressive set of wines and older vintages testified their aging propensity.

Located on the steep banks of the river Sil in the majestic beauty of Ribeira Sacra lies Adega Algueira. All the fruit used in their wines is estate grown with the utmost care using Read More...

biodynamic methods (though not "officially" certified). 2011 Algueira Merenzao is delicious. Made from Mencia and a single varietal Merenzao (also known as Bastardo). The average age of the vines are 80 years. Given the extreme steepness of the slopes, all the vineyard work and harvest are done, painstakingly, by hand. Pure and delicate with lifted, vibrant flavors of red cherry and hints of leafy herbalness, crushed lilacs and minerals. It drinks easy and uncomplicated, and it shows the best of an often- forgotten grape.

WINE ADVACATE 93 POINTS -
"The 2009 Alion, pure Tempranillo aged in French oak, has had the benefit of a couple more years in bottle than the Read More...

2011 and shows more nuances, more restraint and a more serious aroma profile. Itâs also a ripe year, with notes of plums and shy violets, the oak well-integrated into the wine. The palate is full-bodied with abundant, fine-grained tannins and a velvety, juicy texture, with good extraction and stuffing: I think this will be longer lived than the 2011. They have different styles â this is classier, and 2011 is more exuberant â but they are both at a similar quality level. 320,000 bottles produced. Drink now-2021. "

plus a bright mineral overtone. Vibrant and precise on the palate, offering sappy red fruit and floral pastille flavors lifted by spice and mineral nuances. Closes spicy, nervy and long, with silky tannins making a late appearance. "

ROBERT PARKER, WINE ADVOCATE 90 POINTS -
"Made from vines planted in 1915, the 2013 Garnacha Negra comes from the village of Batea, where wine has been made since the 15th century. Eric Solomon partnered with Spaniard Nuria Altes to produce this remarkable, cool-climate, high-altitude Grenache with a Pinot Noir-like personality. Abundant notes of cranberries, red cherries, black currants and hints of forest floor and damp earth are followed by a medium-bodied wine with terrific fruit intensity and richness that can only be the result of these old vines. The wine also possesses a freshness, vibrancy and exuberance that are stunningly impressive. Drink it over the next 1-2 years. "

The Bodegas Alto Moncayo, along with its sister property El Nido in Jumilla, combines the talents of local growers and winemakers with Australiaâs super-star winemaker, Chris Ringland. The partnership has the ability to cherry-pick the best parcels of old vine Garnacha from Borsaoâs extensive holdings in the region, nearly 2,000 acres.

The Garnacha grape is one of the varieties that best expresses its terroir. Thus, the Garnacha of Alto Moncayo is different from the rest of the Campo de Borja DenominaciÃ³n de Origen (DO) area. This is due to the very strict selection made from the vineyards, the type of soil in which they are grown, the microclimate and the age of the vines. As these vines are very old, the strains are very well-balanced, with a very deep root system.

All of these factors, together with the location of the vineyards, between 500m and 800m in height, where the maturity is very slow, leads to wines of great fruitiness and minerality. In the mouth they are rich and fulsome, with pleasant, mature tannins and highly aromatic persistence.

The native Garnacha grapes of Alto Moncayo, together with the microclimate to which they are subjected, the type of soil, the orientation and rigorous handling combine to make the authentic native terroir, producing wines which are highly distinctive and unique in the world.

The Bodegas Alto Moncayo, along with its sister property El Nido in Jumilla, combines the talents of local growers and winemakers with Australiaâs super-star winemaker, Chris Ringland. The partnership has the ability to cherry-pick the best parcels of old vine Garnacha from Borsaoâs extensive holdings in the region, nearly 2,000 acres.

The Garnacha grape is one of the varieties that best expresses its terroir. Thus, the Garnacha of Alto Moncayo is different from the rest of the Campo de Borja DenominaciÃ³n de Origen (DO) area. This is due to the very strict selection made from the vineyards, the type of soil in which they are grown, the microclimate and the age of the vines. As these vines are very old, the strains are very well-balanced, with a very deep root system.

All of these factors, together with the location of the vineyards, between 500m and 800m in height, where the maturity is very slow, leads to wines of great fruitiness and minerality. In the mouth they are rich and fulsome, with pleasant, mature tannins and highly aromatic persistence.

The native Garnacha grapes of Alto Moncayo, together with the microclimate to which they are subjected, the type of soil, the orientation and rigorous handling combine to make the authentic native terroir, producing wines which are highly distinctive and unique in the world.

The story of this winery is the reason
people are so drawn to their wine and the
people behind it. Three young men believed
their hometown of Mallorca, Spain, could
produce Read More...

some outstanding wines. And so
they set out contracting with 135 tiny vineyards with 50- to 85-year-old vines and started to make wines from the native varietals of the area. Soon, their farmhouse was turned into a winery and the demand for the wines became more than they could supply. This unique red is made from old vine Callet,
Mantonegre, Fogoneu and Syrah fermented in a combination of stainless steel and concrete, aged for over just a year in a combination of French and American oak.

A unique aroma of savory spices, violets and smokiness leads to silky and intense flavors great for duck or stuffed pork chops. If you are a person that
is intrigued by the less-than-obvious, this one is for you

"Antidoto" is a phenomenal value wine from Soria, a remote Eastern part of Ribera Del Duero where temperatures tend to be cooler and there's an abundance of old vines. Winemaker Bertrand Read More...

Sourdais has crafted an extremely sophisticated wine with beautiful blackberry fruit, moderate oak from older barrels and notes of tobacco and sassafras. This is a balanced wine with moderate tannins and a long finish that will pair well with red meats, sausages and rustic Spanish style fare.

Grapes are sourced from organic vineyards in Rueda at about 750 meters. Grapes are always harvested at night. The fermentation of the grapes using wild yeasts is followed by a short elevage period in stainless steel tanks.

WINE ADVOCATE 95 POINTS - "The 2007 Pagos Viejos is sourced from Artadi's three best and most elevated vineyard sites, all planted to Tempranillo over Read More...

75 years of age. The wine was aged for 18 months in new French oak. It sports a superb aromatic array of toasty new oak, pencil lead, violets, incense, black cherry, and blueberry. Elegant, ripe, and velvety on the palate, it has superb depth and concentration, savory flavors, a firm structure, and a 45-second finish. Give it 6-8 years of additional bottle age and drink it from 2016 to 2032."

From Rioja Alavesa, the highest elevation in the Rioja region, this region is typically known for producing wines that are lighter and aromatic. It is a must try!

WINE ADVOCATE 91 POINTS -
"The 2010 Vinas de Gain red, from a very balanced vintage is made with Tempranillo sourced from different vineyards Read More...

in Laguardia averaging 30 years of age. It is fermented in open stainless steel tanks and aged in French oak barrels for one year. Itâs a little closed and requires some time to start showing its nose. The palate is explosive, with clean acidity and balance, pure, hedonistic with great depth. It slowly develops some minty, balsamic aromas coating the red fruit, with even notes of fennel. 150,000 bottles were produced. Drink 2014-2022. "

WINE ENTHUSIAST 91 POINTS -
"Everything about this highly functional Rioja is nice. The nose is fresh, minerally and shows complexities like cinnamon aromas and herbs. The palate is snappy and racy, but not shear or acidic. Flavors of plum, berry and oak are pure and bold, while the finish is dry, lightly toasted and shows minerality and coffee notes. Drink through 2019. "

INTERNATIONAL WINE CELLAR 91 POINTS - -
"Assertive red fruit and floral scents are brightened by a minerally nuance. Spicy, penetrating and gently sweet, offering bitter cherry and raspberry flavors and a touch of rose. The long finish features gentle tannic grip and very good spicy lift, leaving a cherry pit note behind."

Founded in 1990, Bodegas Arzuaga-Navarro is located right next door to the venerable Vega Sicilia. Florentino Arzuaga makes Riberas of great depth and elegance. Made from a blend of Read More...

Tinto Fino (aka Tempranillo) with a bit of Cabernet Suvignon and Merlot, their 2001 Crianza bears all the hallmarks of this top vintage. Round, ripe blackberry/cherry fruit is balanced with a long elegant finish.

The 2010 Crianza is 90% Tempranillo, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Merlot from some of the estateâs younger vines. It was aged in French and American oak for 16 months. Deeply colored, Read More...

the wine reveals a complex aromatic display of cedar, saddle leather, violets, lavender, blueberry, and blackberry. This leads to a medium-bodied, supple-textured wine with ripe, spicy blue and black fruits and light tannin. The wine is well-balanced and has excellent concentration.